Paragon of Sin

It began; the clash between 245 Mortal Sovereign Alchemists, all tasked with taking a nascent seed and cultivating it to their greatest potential. This clash would determine who amongst these alchemists had the most right to claim the strongest voice in deciding the next era's standards for Chosen.

With the low level of those Chosen Knights, at or beneath the Sixth Stage of the Qi Condensation Realm, the False Reality Phase, and the limited timeframe given, there was no apparent advantage between Official, Prime, or Grand-tier Mortal Sovereign Alchemists. The critical products that'll firmly set these Chosen Knights apart will be peak-quality and amongst the fifth, sixth, and seventh-grade products. 

Lin Ming was silently observing this from his corner, listening to the voice in the Aegis of the Elements. "Crafted regiments tailored and ease of refinement—these will be the differences between alchemists, and strength of discernment will be crucial here."

"Discernment?" Lin Ming was a little envious of these cultivators which spurred his curiosity. He wasn't the only one. There were countless eyes gleaming with jealousy and despondency, not chosen to be a part of this era-defining clash. It wasn't wrong to say that these Chosen Knights will receive the best possible nurturing in these three years and a half. 

The voice replied, "Yes. The strength of discernment will greatly affect how those selected will advance. A complete regiment of alchemical products involves pills, elixirs, and pastes. Determining the affinity of a cultivator and their body's ability to process different materials will greatly impact their speed of development and direction of cultivation."

"Speed of development? Are you saying that cultivators can refine various types of alchemical products with different efficacies?" Lin Ming was stunned. He hadn't known about this before, learning something new. 

"Not only that, but a cultivator's ability to refine certain types of energies is oftentimes greater than others. You've heard of the three aspects of innate talent, right?" The voice asked. 

"Three aspects of innate talent?" Lin Ming recalled the various unique 'innate' talents of cultivators. "Do you mean physique, psyche, and meridians?" 

"Indeed—physical, mental, and essence. They coincide with the constitution of cells, the Sea of Consciousness, and metabolic strength towards foreign material. These three types of innate talents are absolutely essential to determining a cultivator's future potential, and everyone has these three at varying levels and qualities—regardless of race or gender. They define what we call 'talent'. 

"The saying that the Alchemic Dao can reforge talent isn't incorrect at all; Alchemists are renowned for their ability to strengthen these three aspects. There are some cultivators with extremely rare physiques, meridians, and psyches. There was a young woman you met before with three special wood-attributed innate talents, all at an extremely high level." The voice explained.

Lin Ming's breadth of knowledge expanded in a few exchanges, greatly astonishing him as he realized the Alchemic Dao was likely more profound than he initially thought. Moreover, he instantly recalled that sword-manipulating Wood Cultivator by the name of Qing Qiumu at the Grand Spirit Trials. He also realized that this voice had been watching him for a long time, even before Lin Xianxei had given him the real Aegis of the Elements.

"The three main nurturing product types for alchemy are pills, paste, and elixirs, and they all come in different states, all consumed in various ways. The body responds by consuming these at different rates and efficiency based on what they target and how they're administered. This is essential knowledge that all alchemists must fully understand before attempting to develop Alchemic Knights.

"The method of selection greatly disadvantages every alchemist here, and by doing so, it evens the playing field." The voice displayed a high level of knowledge regarding the Alchemic Dao and Alchemic Knights. "After discerning the level of these three talents, the first move of these alchemists will involve either choosing to neglect those weaknesses and focus solely on their innately born strengths, or…"

"Or?" Lin Ming found himself heavily invested.

"Or, they will focus on strengthening the weaker aspects of talent to better lay a foundation for the future. This will inevitably consume a lot of time and resources, delaying an Alchemic Knight's cultivation base and comprehension of cultivation due to their refinement efforts. Thus, ease of refinement will be absolutely essential here, especially for those who decide on the foundation path." The voice simply stated that the alchemists would either work with what's there or reforge the innate talents of these Chosen Knights and then proceed to lay the strongest foundation, delaying progression on refinements. 

"So the best option is to focus on innate strengths and cultivation base rather than layering a better foundation?" Lin Ming asked. Considering the time-sensitive nature of the clash, including the time needed to develop one's combat prowess, with the limited time given for the Saint Cyclic Alchemic Clash, it was obvious that strengthening one's innate talents and foundations was significantly less important than overall cultivation level and comprehension of arts and spells.

"..." The voice remained oddly silent.

Lin Ming had grasped this detail. Given the limited timeframe, wasn't it better to go with the first choice? Yet the abrupt silence from the voice left him feeling unsure. 

-----

"So what would you have me do? I'm down for anything, as long as it's not running. These bones of mine just aren't as spry as they once were." Luo Ning rose from her seat with a readied expression. She decided to trust Wei Wuyin. Why? It was better to grasp at the slightest chance of reaching a higher stage in the Alchemic Dao than to settle in obscurity, dying after a pathetic existence defined by failure and rejection. 

Also, why the hell not? The light at the end of the tunnel didn't seem so appealing to her unless her name was etched on the surface of the walls for others to see in the future. 

Du Ling, however, was a little nervous and jittery. He wasn't a fighter or a talented cultivator by any stretch of the imagination. It was more reasonable to say that his best qualities befitted a steward or butler, fiercely loyal and capable of handling minor tasks decently well. He didn't even expect that his Master would give him this opportunity instead of one of his vastly more talented children because of their relationship.

While Du Ming, his oldest son, was unqualified to participate due to his cultivation level, already at the Eighth Stage of the Qi Condensation Realm, Du Ping, his youngest, had the highest potential and innate talent out of all his children. He simply felt that he was out of his depth, only resisting the urge to step down merely out of wholehearted trust for Wei Wuyin. 

Wei Wuyin held a contemplative expression, ruminating over various details concerning this newly structured clash and its nuances. He had three goals here: 

1) Maintaining the secrecy of his Alchemic Soul; he realized that revealing this, including his absurd cultivation strength early, would have an unimaginable unpredictable effect on the stellar region. It was best to keep this a hidden trump card that greatly benefited him, causing his enemies to underestimate his potential and alchemical abilities.

2) Experiment with the mental properties of Alchemic Eden Force; when Wei Wuyin was young, he had tested various mental transferences of knowledge to Su Mei, but he had since avoided using it due to his own lacking knowledge and cultivation base. Additionally, he didn't know the limits or disadvantages of using this method. It was pointless to instill his knowledge when it was severely lacking or reveal his abilities to others without establishing his power base first. 

3) Nurture Du Ling to claim victory in the clash; the least important yet most challenging among the three goals he had. Why? Because he wasn't going to do so himself, but would have Luo Ning act as his proxy. He didn't know if she'll able to bring Du Ling to the level where he can refine a Neo-Dawn Eclipse Pill. 

After a long while, facing the focused stares of these two vital pieces of his future plans, Wei Wuyin finally said: "I'll have you both shake the entire world." 

"Without a proper instructor, how will this…Chosen Knight of yours be able to rival others?" Luo Ning remained skeptical. She was confident that she could use her skills to nurture Du Ling into having an exceptional cultivation foundation, but a Chosen wasn't defined just by their cultivation foundation but by comprehensive combat strength as well. She had no combat ability to speak of if one excluded talismans and pellets, so what could she possibly teach him?

"We have no need for a proper instructor. I, Wei Wuyin, will teach Du Ling." Wei Wuyin declared, eliciting a spark of surprise within the aged eyes of Luo Ning. Du Ling was transfixed but also strangely relieved. Since young, Wei Wuyin has always been equal parts outstanding and hard working. If or when he sets his mind to something, very rarely will he ever fail in the task. 

"Alchemic Sovereign Wei, you must be joking. You've yet to reach the peak of your realm, and every Mystic Star instructor here, failures or not, have a higher understanding of the lesser realms. You're still grasping insights," Luo Ning pointed out. The crucial reason why cultivation was profoundly difficult was the unseen chasm of understanding that stifled the minds of those in that realm of cultivation.

While Wei Wuyin was at the Astral Core Realm, capable of instilling the profoundness of the Qi Condensation Realm upon Du Ling in its entirety, when it came to the application of the powers within the Mortal Dao, namely the first three realms of cultivation: The Foundation Establishment, Qi Condensation, and Astral Core Realms, it was those at the Mystic Ascendant Realm that had a much higher comprehension. 

These instructors had reached their perceived 'ends' and still possessed Astral Souls, but as such, their invented arts, spells, and various cultivation methods were capable of being used by mortals, yet they've touched upon the borders of the Mystic Dao. It wasn't a lie to say what they could teach would exceed whatever Wei Wuyin could impart by ten times over. Wei Wuyin wouldn't argue the validity of that statement, knowing that Luo Ning certainly had a higher understanding of using of mortal-graded energies and forces in a generalized sense than himself. 

However, Wei Wuyin was unfazed. He turned to Du Ling and asked: "What path do you wish to cultivate?" He walked over, reached out his right hand, and directed Du Ling's focus to his open palm. 

Woosh! Woosh! Woosh!

Several sounds rang out as nine different spheres the size of children's marbles manifested, circulating above his palm in an eye-catching orbit. They reflected the nine elements: Earth, Water, Wind, Fire, Metal, Lightning, Wood, Magma, and Ice. They glowed enchantingly as Wei Wuyin continued, "The Elemental Path?"

He lifted his left hand. 

Shiing!

A sharp light was conjured at the center of his palm, twisting and spiraling with an indomitable edge threatening to cut the world. It settled into the images of a sword, a saber, a spear, an axe, and other weapons of war, totaling over twenty different bladed weapons. They were tainted by slaughter, battle, and blood. 

"The War Path?" 

Luo Ning's expression drastically changed as surprise pounded her mind. Du Ling's eyes were transfixed on Wei Wuyin's two hands, his left eye reflecting the image of breathtakingly animated elemental spheres and his right eye reflecting the scenes of endless war, battle, and weapons.

Then, from Wei Wuyin's chest, a thunderously dull roar rang out. The sound sent a sweeping wave of physical pressure that caused Luo Ning's breathing to cease and Du Ling's hands to tremble uncontrollably. It carried the essence of physical might originating from bone, blood, and flesh—the energies inherent in every cell in one's body.

"The Martial Path? Or…" Wei Wuyin pointed. He wasn't done, about to demonstrate another path, when Du Ling's mouth moved, releasing a hoarse voice, his eyes seemingly in a trance. 

"Magma." 

A single word, yet it originated from his innermost mind and soul. With a bright smile, Wei Wuyin abruptly clapped his hands, and Du Ling stumbled out of his stupor, confusion flashing in his eyes incessantly. 

"Perfect." Wei Wuyin proudly exclaimed, "We have direction. And with direction, we have a goal." Since Du Ling's affinity towards cultivation was elemental, then the most difficult goal to achieve had just become ten times easier.